Below is the leaked schedule, per numerous media outlets now. My first thoughts is this is a nightmare schedule early. To start on the road on Monday Night Football, then turn around and have to play the Patriots at home on a short week (when they played Thursday night and will have a lot more time to prepare) – then you have to go on the road twice more before the bye, including once to London. Three of the first four games are on the road, including one in London, with the lone home game being the Patriots. That’s just brutal.

The stretch from hosting the Bears to hosting the Panthers, though, is a really soft six week period. If the Saints can survive the first six games of the season and not be left for dead early, there will be an opportunity to climb into the thick of the standings at that point.